Apparatus for mining coal



Oct. 3, 1944. J. M. HILLIARD 2,359,556

APPARATUS FOR- MINING COAL` Filed July 10, 1943 2 Sheets-Sheet 1l Jay Mhf/i/ZZ/tar/ ATTOR N EYS 0C# 3, 1944- J. M. HILLIARD 2,359,556

APPARATUS FOR MINING COAL Filed July 1o, 1943 2 sheets-sheet 2 Jay Mir/wwwa INVENTOR ATTOR N EYS Patented Oct. 3, 1944 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE APPARATUS FOR MINING COAL AJay M. Hilliard, Slippery Rock, Pa.

Application July 10, 1943, Serial No. 494,234

(Cl. MS2- 8) 4 Claims.

The present invention relates to an improved apparatus for mining coal and has for its primary object the provision of a combined car and cutting apparatus for cutting out sections of coal and removing the same in an eiiicient and expeditious manner.

Another object of the invention is to provide improved cutting means movably associated on a trackway forming a part of the mining car.

The invention also consists in certain other features of construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts, to be hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and specifically pointed out in the appended claims.

In describing my invention in detail, reference will be had to the accompanying drawings wherein like characters denote like or corresponding parts-throughout the several views, and in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the device illustrated in the process of cutting arsection of coal from a mine.

Figure 2 is an end elevation with parts in sections.

Figure 3 is a top plan view thereof.

Figure 4 is a front elevational View.

Figure 5 is a top plan view of a friction clutch or double drumr reel for controlling the feeding of the cutting member.

The present invention has been especially designed for removing and loading a block of coal after the face of the coal has been prepared by a cutting machine. Before using the apparatus forming a part of the present invention, it is rst necessary to prepare horizontal and vertical cuts in the vein of coal. Referring more particularly to Figure 2 of the drawings, the reference numeral 6 designates a kerf extending in a horizontal direction While the reference numerals 'I and 8 respectively, designate vertical cuts which communicate with the horizontal cut 6. A trackway generally designated by the reference numeral 9 is laid within the horizontal kerf 6 on which the coal mining car I Il is adapted to travel. The car I5 is of hollow rectangular shaped formation and is provided With the usual Wheels I I which are suspended from axles I2 extending from the side wall I3 of the car. The car I0 further includes a bottom wall I4 and end Wall I5, it being understood that the front of the car is open. l

After formation .of the horizontal and vertical kerfs 6, 'I and 8 respectively, the block of coal designated by the reference numeral I6 is suspended from its top Wall II and end wall |8a.

In accordance with the present invention, a specially devised cutting means is employed for separating the block of coal from its top and end walls for deposit Within the car IB. A track I8 is mounted on each side Wall of the car adjacent to the top end thereof and said trackway extends along the entire side wall and connects with a vertically extending track I3. The tracks I8 and I9 are mounted in any desired manner and form a supporting medium for the electric motors 20 which are disposed on opposed sides of the car and which form the means for operating the cutting blade 2|. The motors 20 are adapted to be operated from a battery or other suitable source of supply and as more particularly shown in Figure 1 of the drawings said motors are formed with pairs of wheels 22 which engage the track I8. The pairs of Wheels 22 are suitably supported in brackets 23 attached to and extending from the motor casing 2B. A shaft 24 extends vertically from each motor 20 and has attached thereto an eccentric 25. 'I'he cutting member 2| extends transversely of the coal car I0 and has each end suitably secured to the opposed eccentric 25.

The shafts 25 are operated by the motors 20 to impart a reciprocatory motion to the cutting member 2|. The motors 20 travel on the tracks I8 and I9 to move the Cutting member 2| horizontally and vertically during its cutting operation. The means for moving the motors 20 on the tracks I8 and I9 comprises a horizontal shaft 26, journaled on the rear end I5 of the car. A coil spring'Z'I surrounds the shaft and has one end 28 attached thereto while the other end of said spring is connected to the end wall of the car as indicated at 29. The spring 21 is retained within a casing 30 which surrounds the shaft 26 and is disposed intermediate the ends thereof. Each end of the shaft 26 supports a pulley 3| over which is trained a cable 32. The cable 32 extends along the side wall of the car and over a second pulley 33 and 34 and from said pulleys extends to the motor 20. A cable likewise extends from the other pulley 3| to the *other motor 29 it being understood that like pairs of pulleys are mounted on opposed sides of the car. The cable 32 is fastened to the motor 2B as indicated at 35 and travels over a horizontally disposed pulley 36 mounted at each end of the car above the shaft 26, said cable terminating in a friction clutch 3l. The friction clutch 31 is best shown in Figure 5 of the drawings and comprises a pair of drums 38 and 39 which are adapted to be locked by means of a lock nut 40a. It will be observed that the cables from each motor are :al Y

reversely wound on the clutch 31 and the purpose of said clutch is to control the speed of the saw or cutting member 2| as it travels in a horizontal direction. When the motors 20 are in the initial position for cutting the coal at which time they will be disposed at the rear end of. the car I0, the spring 21 will be under tension and upon releasing the lock nut 40a, the tension of the spring will affect movement of the cable 32 to draw the motor 20 forwardly on thel track I8. It is, of course, to be understood that the motors have'previously been started so as to drive the shaft 24 and eccentric 25 which will impart a reciprocatory movement to the saw or cuttingl element 2l. Thus as the cutting element 2| reciprocates it also moves forwardly in a horizon.- tal position thereby separating the block of coal I6 from its top Wall I1. The motors 20 travel in a horizontal direction along the track I8 and then curve downwardly along the vertical track so as to separate the coal from itsr end wall l8a. After the block of coal has been completely separated it Will be deposited in the bed of the car I0. The car is then moved from the mine a sufficient distance to permit the motor 20v to be manually moved rearwardly along the track which movement will again place the spring 21 under tension and will be held in locked position by tightening the lock nut 40a against the friction clutch 31. If desired, the motors can be entirely removed from the tracks and stored for future use. Y

The invention further includes the use of a braking mechanism for the car when said car is disposed in the mine. The braking mechanism includes a bar 40 which is pivoted inter. mediate at the ends as indicated at 4l between the pairs of wheels Il. YA cable 42 has one end attached as indicated at 43 to the bar 40 and is trained over a pulley 44 to a second pulley 4'5 attached to the Vend of the car and has its other end attached as indicated at 46 to a brake lever 41. A similar arrangement of cable and pulleys is provided on the other side wall of the car and the end of thecable is secured as indicated at 48 to vthe brake lever 41. The brake lever 41 isV of conventional construction and is adapted to be moved for applying and releasing the bar 40 from the wheels Il. It is important that the car have its brakes applied during the operation of the cutting mechanism.Y The brake actuatorV being attached to the rearY end of the car is readily accessible to the operator at all times.

It is also preferred that one or a series of open- Y ,ingsY 49 which may be of any size and located at any position in the car be formed for the purpose of viewing or inserting drills or other accessories or for permitting the use of explosives or any unit of power or pressure whichV may be used or are necessary to remove any or all portions of any strata from their foundation especially the coal foundation. It is' to be understood that the opening 49 may be formed on the bottom wall, end wall or either side wall of the car.

Also it will be understood, of course, by those skilled in the art that variations in the hereinabove described device involving the substitution of substantial equivalents for the devices described are intended to be ccmprehended within the spirit of the present invention and that the invention is capable of extended application and is not confined to the exact showing of the drawings nor to the precise construction described,

lllV

and therefore, such changes and modifications may be made therein as do not affect the spirit of the invention nor exceed the scope thereof as expressed in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a mining and loading machine, the combination with a mining car adapted to be moved beneath columns or strata of coal along the mine wall, of means associated with said car for cutting a block of coal, said means including a pair of motors movable on 'a trackway on each side of said car, a cutting membei` operable by said motors, and means for affecting movement of said motors on said trackway.

2. In a mining and loading machine, the combination with a mining car adapted to bemoved beneath columns or strata of coal along the mine wall, of means associated with said car forcutting a block of coal, the said means including a pair of motors supported in a vertical position on a trackway on each side of said car, a shaft extending from` each motor, a cutting membercarried by said shafts and adapted to be driven by said motors, and means for affecting movement of said motors on said trackway.

3. In a mining and loading machine, the combination with a, mining car adapted to be moved beneath columns or stratal of coal along the mine wall, of means associated with said car for 'cutting a block of coal, said meansincluding a trackway mounted on each side wall, of said car adjacent to the upper end thereof, an electric motor positioned on said trackway on each side of said car, a shaft extending vertically fromeach motor, a cutting member carried by said shafts, means for affecting movement of said motors along said trackway to drive said cutting member in a horizontal position, said means including a horizontal shaft journalled on the rear of said car, a spring motor associated with said shaft, pulleys secured on the ends of said shaft, cables secured to said motors and sheaves and a pairV of pulleys on the side of the car, whereby upon releasing the tension on said spring motor said cables will movesaid electric motors along said trackway toward theA forward end of said car.

4. In a mining and loading machine, the combination with a mining car adapted to be moved beneath columns or strata of coal along the mine wal1,'of means associated with said car for cutting a block of coal, said means including a trackway mounted on each side wall of said car adjacent to the upper end thereof, an electric motor positioned on said trackway on each side of said-car, a shaft extending vertically from each motor, a cutting member carried by said shafts, means for affecting movement of said motors along said trackway to drive said cutting member in a horizontal position, said means including a horizontal shaft journalled on the rear of said car, a spring motor associated with said shaft, pulleys secured on the ends of said shaft, cables secured to said motors and sheaves and a pair of pulleys on the side of the car, whereby upon releasing the tension on said spring motorsaid cables Will-.move said electric` motors along said trackway towardV the forward end of said car, and a, friction clutch mounted on the reall of the car having individual drums over which said cables are trained for controlling the speed of said cutting member as it travels in a horizontal direction.

JAY M. HILLIARD. 

